The Press., 1887-03-10
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washinrtnn nd Mar,

Washington, D. O., March 5, 1887.
 The adjournment of congress- does not produce to day the commercial calm and the social solitude of thirty, or of even ten years ago. The growth of the capital hi 8 been approximately greaier than the marvellous growth of the country. The coming and going of congress is no longer its life or death. The president, the cabi- net, the heads of the great government offices, generals, admirals, judges, journal ists. senators, and members of the lower house live or finger here the greater part of the year. The capital has become a center for conventions, a Mecca for excur- sionists, and not bad place for elopers and other cranks. The art galleries, mu- senms, the monumental and architectural attractions of Washington are not equalled by those of any city. in this hemisphere, and are scarcely excelled by the great cities of the old world. 9CSive us time and an. propriations," said distinguished travel CT, sand we will distance rivalry as far as our wealth and railroads distance those of any other people" What physician won. der will not wealth when welded to ener. gy accomplish2 And what monstrosity will 1t not accomplish if divorced from taste. intelligence, and moral purpose? It would be we'll for us, as people, to re- mind our vanity occasionally that mere bigness IS not greatness. The startling may be an element of the sublime, but it IS also an element of the groteedue. As for example, look at the new pension build ing, the most uncanny pile of red brick in the world, and at tLe equestrian monu- ments of Washington and of Scott.
 All the world will remain in Washington until after the great, national, competitive drill, which is 10 begin the twenty. second of May, and to continue for & week or more. Crack companies, representing foot, horse and artillery, will be here from all parts of the union. The drill will be on the large and perfectly level plain south of the white house. The latest story is that Jefferson Davis will accompany Missis. sipp1 infantry company as its guest. From | ten to fiftten thousand holiday soldiers will be here, accompanied by their sisters, cousins and aunts, and thousands of visit, CTS are exp, cted from all parta of tue Ooun: try.
 The Anal hours of congress were hurried
 and turbulent; bills which should have
 had the careful consideration of days, were
 railroaded through at the eleventh hour il
 the hope of avoiding an extFa session
 There were about two hundred measures ! left on the two calendars when congress adlonTned on Friday, representing worl
 in committee and elsewhere, which woulc
 have taken the lifetime of any single law
 yer to perform. Hundreds of the meas ures which will die with this congress have occupied ss many az half dozel meetings of committees, composed of iron nine to fifteen members, most of whom ar active workers, and whose time devoted [, law, medicine, and other professions o business would command high Femuners tion. Most of the measures which vii die on the calendars are of a private na tpre, for claims, pensions, etc, but nor
 than one third of them are of genera character, and one-fourth of them oi ns tional importance. s- Quite a number of important bills hay beep passed by the last congress, many o
 them of great value as legislation. Tn following are among the number; Th oleomargarine bill, the Qingly shipping : bill, the anti- -palygamy bill, the presi dential succession bill, the electoral coun bill, the Fitz-John Porter bill, the Atlanti and Pacific land grand forfeiture bill, tn trade dollar bill, the labor arbitration bill the bill to prohibit aliens from acquirin, land in she United States, the Indian SC yeralty bill, the widows pension bill, tn Mexican pension bill, the national librar, building bill the bill to extend the monel order system, the bill to extend the fre' : GeliyRry system, the bill to prohibit tn, importation of contract labor, and the in
 terstate commerce bill.